Remember how tough your transition from high school to college life was - and you had help. Imagine going it alone.

Approximately 30 youth inside The Village Network will be eligible for our Scholarship Coaching Program this year. You can help by volunteering to mentor a student through that first year of change.

Coaches are asked to touch base with a student at least once a month and submit a progress report. The contact can be via email, phone or face-to-face. Coaches must complete a written application and a criminal background check.

The Scholarship Coaching Program was created to help our youth successfully pursue the opportunities of higher education and independent living. Program details are available by contacting Wendi Warren at 330.264.3903 or wwarren@thevillagenetwork.com.

Smith Dairy recently joined the Corporate Partner Program. “We are honored to support The Village Network and truly appreciate the work they do for our children and the community,” said Steve Schmid, president, Smith Dairy. The local independent dairy has supported The Village Network since 1975 and is one of seven Corporate Partners including Buckeye Container, The J. M. Smucker Company, LuK USA LLC, Seaman Corporation, United Titanium and Western Reserve Group.

A new kind of foster care was introduced at TVN-Akron and Uhrichsville. Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) places one troubled youth in a foster home for six to nine months for one-on-one care. MTFC provides youth with the close supervision of a therapist for the biological family, a child therapist, a supervisor and a foster parent recruiter/office associate. If you are interested in learning more about MTFC or becoming an MTFC foster parent, please contact Gary Byron in Akron at 330.252.8600 or Linda den Heijer in Uhrichsville at 740.922.2144.

The Small Business Leadership Award was presented to Buckeye Container by the North Central Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The Village Network nominated the employee-owned company in recognition of over 35 years of support. November 13, 2009 was proclaimed Buckeye Container Day in the City of Wooster.

TVN-Mount Vernon/Knox County was one of three companies nominated for the Chamber’s 2009 Investor in the Future Award. Rolls-Royce Energy Systems received the award at the annual dinner earlier this month. The award recognizes a company or organization that has made a significant contribution or investment in Knox County or the youth of Knox County.

For over 10 years, TVN-Mount Vernon/Knox County has advocated, protected and served the county’s most vulnerable boys and girls. Through a partnership with Knox County Dept. of Job & Family Services (KCJFS) over 230 youth have been helped in our residential, day treatment, foster care and transitional living programs. The staff also provides out-patient and in-home mental health services through KCJFS and 24/7 emergency admission and respite care for children in crisis.

Congratulations to TVN-Mount Vernon/Knox County team for being recognized as a leader inside Knox County.